Ferdinando Gagliano – Napoli 1785

The top of this violin is made from two pieces of spruce, medium-grain at the center and widening towards the flanks. The back, ribs and scroll are all made from maple with a medium-width curl. The original, golden brown varnish blends into a deep yellow ground.
Finely preserved, this instrument illustrates the last period work of Nicolo Gagliano’s eldest son Ferdinando. This son’s death, dated 1782 or 1784, is now believed to have occurred in the early 1790’s. Ferdinando modelled this instrument on a late-model Stradivarius.